Door closer assembly



A ril 20, 1965 Filed Aug. 10, 1962 G. P. PATRIQUIN ETAL DOOR CLOSER ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 VENTORS IN GEORGE I. PflTR/QUl/V NORMAN R. ADLER ATTORNEY April 20, 1965 G. P. PATRIQUIN ETAL 3,178,759

DOOR CLOSER ASSEMBLY I5 Sheets-Sheetv 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1962 INVENTORS GEORGE P. PATR/Qu/N NORM/IN R. ADLER WW/(5 W ATTORNEY NR w o wm Q MN is w #w April 0, 1965 G. P. PATRIQUIN ETAL 3,178,759

DOOR CLOSER ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 10, 1962 3 Sheets-She et 3 v M U] [l] INVENTORS GEORGE P. PATR/QU/N g- NORMA/V R. ADLER BY H 73m,

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,173,759 DOOR CLOSER ASSEMBLY George P. Patriquin, Gardner, and Norman R. Adier, Fitchburg, Mass., assignors to Independent Lock Com-- pany, Fitchhurg, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Aug. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 216,117 13 Claims. (61. 16-79) This invention relates to a door cioser assembly, and more particularly to a spring powered door closer assembly which includes a housing having a piston slidably mounted therein, which piston is in driving geared relation to a spindle journalled in the housing.

Still more particularly, this invention relates to a novel stop assembly for a door closer and damper of the type described wherein the spindle includes a gear member in driving relation with a complemental gear member on the sliding piston, said stop assembly serving to limit the relative movement of the geared portions aforesaid, to prevent damage to one or both of the gear portions.

In known door closer and damper assemblies of the type described, it is common to utilize a spindle having a pinion gear meshed with a rack gear formed on a slidably mounted, spring biased piston. In many instances, the closer assemblies are atfixed to the door and door frame by persons who are not experienced carpenters or installers.

It will be readily recognized that when the device is aifixed to the door, the force applied to the door upon the opening thereof is greatly magnified through the linkage between the door and frame and by the leverage of the door itself, and thus the forces applied to the spindle and, in turn, through the spindle to the piston, are of exceedingly great magnitude.

Trouble has arisen in closer devices heretofore known where, through faulty installation or through careless operation of the door, the geared portions of the piston and spindle are forced to their limiting positions. At such limiting positions, it is possible, through careless manipulation or forcing of the door, to develop torsional stresses in the neighborhood of 200,000 pounds. These forces, when transmitted through the pinion of the spindle to the rack of the piston, often result in a fracture of teeth from the pinion gear or teeth from the rack, or both, necessitating costly repairs of the closer unit.

Similarly, when the limiting position of the pinion and rack are reached, such torsional stresses have induced fracture in the spindle itself, again requiring repair and/or replacement of the unit.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to i provide a novel stop assembly which positively prevents damage to the spindle or piston assembly, notwithstanding careless handling of a door to which the closer has been applied.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel stop means for a closer assembly or the like, which means facilitates proper installation of the assembly.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a stop assembly for a door closer wherein forces transmitted to the closer mechanism by careless handling of a door, i.e. in attempts to force the door open beyond its normal limiting position, are absorbed by said stop assembly, thereby guarding against setting up torsional stresses of high magnitude in the spindle or between the pinion and rack.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a door closer in accordance with the invention, parts of the housing of said closer being broken away to show details of construction;

Patented Apr. 20, less ice FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a stop mechanism in accordance with the invention;

FIGURES 3 through 6 are plan views, partially diagrammatic in nature, illustrating the various oriented positions of certain components of the closer assembly in accordance with the various types of closer installations desired.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a closer assembly including a housing 10 having mounted therein a slidable piston 12 which is biased toward the end 14 of the housing by a heavy coiled spring 16. The piston, at a central portion thereof, is provided with a pair of spaced-apart side rack elements 18, one of which is shown in FIGURE 1, each of the side racks having inwardly directed teeth 26, it being understood that the teeth of one rack are directed toward, but spaced from, the teeth of the other rack.

A spindle 22 is rotatably journalled at its lower end 24 in a bearing cup 26 carried by the housing, the upper end 23 of the spindle being journalled in a capping element 3t threadedly secured in aperture 32 in the housing 10.

The spindle 22 carries a pinion gear 34, said gear having teeth 36 extending partially thereabout. The gear 34 lies between the spaced rack members 18, it being understood that upon rotation in one direction, the spindle will engage the teeth 26 of one rack, and upon rotation in the opposite direction, the teeth of the opposite rack will be engaged.

It will be understood from the foregoing that when the spindle is rotated as by opening the door in a manner to be hereinafter more fully explained, the piston 12 is shifted away from the end 14 of the housing, compressing the spring 16, and when the door is released, the stored energy in the spring 16 urges the piston 12 again toward the end 14 of the housing, inducing a counter-rotation in the spindle. Control mechanism 38 is provided for damping the return movement of the piston by causing hydraulic fluid entrapped between the piston 12 and end 1d gradually to be passed through restricted passages formed in the housing.

The closer and damper assembly, insofar as presently described, is altogether conventional and of the general type shown, for instance, in the copending application of Francis V. McI-Iale, Serial No. 824,669, now Patent Number 3,059,268, issued October 23, 1962. Therefore, further description of the device is not believed necessary, it being understood, however, that the invention should not be taken as limited to use with the illustrated closer device.

In accordance with the invention, the housing 19 is formed with an annular channel 59 surrounding the aperture 32 and concentric with such aperture. The annular channel is formed at equi-spaced points, four in numher in the illustrated embodiments, with laterally directed recessed portions 52, 54, 56, 58, for purposes which will appear hereinafter.

The spindle 22 is operatively associated with the door frame by a drive link member 60 having a spindle key shaft receiving portion 62 at the inner end 64 of said link. The spindle 22 is provided with a square key shaft 66 which, in the operative positions, enters within the key receiving portion 62, the link 60 being secured to the spindle by a nut 68 threaded over end portion 70 of the spindle.

The link 60, at its outer end 72, is provided with a pintle 7 pivotally received within a complemental bearing aperture formed in the outermost end portion of a further link 60a, which further link is carried in the usual manner pivotally on a bracket aflixed to the door frame.

The inner end 64 of the link 60 is provided with an offset arcuate extension portion 76 directed toward and riding 7 C within'the channel St? of the housing iii. It will be understood that in operation, as the link 69 is moved in accordance with the opening and closing movements of the door, the arcuate extension portion 76 is swung within the.

limiting confines of the channel 59. A. blocking segment 78, which is generally arcuate in configuration, is providedwith spaced lobes 86, 82. The lobes '0l' lugs 39, 82 are offset from the contour of the segment '78 and are spaced to correspond with the spacing betweenthe recessed portions 52, 54, 53, it being understood that the segment 73 may be disposed within channel, 59, with the lugs 30, 82 lying within any adjacent pair of said recessed portions, as best seen in FIGURES 3 through 6. The

In the'installation of FIGURE 5, lobe 80 of segment 78 is disposed in recess 52 and lobe 82 in recess 54. In such application, the side edge 76b of the extension portion 76 lies against lobe Eli the stopping action upon opening of the door. being effected by the engagement of side 7601 with abutment 84-.

a In the installation of FIGURE 5, the extension '76 moves clockwise within the channel and a door opening of nearly 180 is effected, with a spindle rotation of about 165. C i g In FIGURE 6 there is shown a parallel application of the door closer to'a right hand door. For suchapplication, lobe 3i) lies in recess 58 and lobe 32 in recess segment '78 includes at one end an extending abutment S4 FIGURE 4 shows the position of such parts for surface.

application of the closer to a left hand door.

FIGURE 5 shows the position of the parts. for a left hand parallel door application.

FIGURE. 6 shows the position 'of such parts for a.

right hand parallel door application. 7

For the application shown in FlGURE 3, lobe orlug '80 is disposed in recess 56 and lobe SZin recess 54-. The

link 6%) is secured to spindle 2.2, the key shaft 66 and key receiver 62 being in driving engagement. It will be seen that the. arcuate portion 76 is disposed with the lateral side edge 76a lying adjacent the side of lobe or lugfitl.

With the closer housing It affixed to the door in the usual manner, the drive links 69 and door frame supported link a will take the general position shown in the diagrammatic portion of FIGURE 3.

It will be understood that as the door is arcuate portion 76 is shifted within the channel portion in the direction of. the arrow, the side edges 76b of the arcuate extension portion 76progressively approaching opened, the

and finally engaging the abutment portion 84 of segment 78; Such engagement will be recognized to prevent any further opening of the door by positively blocking any will permit the door to be opened to about In the course of such opening movement, the spindle is rotated 5s. Theextension portion 76 is applied over the spindle so that the edge 76a of such extension portion lies adjacent lobefSiB, the other edge 76b of said extensi n portion 76 forming withabutrnent 84 the end stop for the door.

.As in the embodiment of FIGURE 5,. a door opening or" about 180, with a spindle rotation of about is permitted; 7 1 l 1 While the installations described. and illustrated in conjunction WithFlGURESi3 through 6 comprise substantially all normal installations, it will be recognized that variationsmay beeffected, if desired. v

Preferably, the recesses 52, 54, 56, 5S, and'the lobes 80,

82 may bear some form of indicia, thus permitting the installation instructions to state the manner in which the segmentis to be inserted into the channel for each of the normal types of installations desired.

The rack and pinion arrangement between the spindle and the piston is coordinated with the dimensions of the extension portion 76 and the segment 78 so that in each instance a blocking movement of the extension will take place before the limiting position of the pinion with respectto therack has been reached. It will thus be seen that there isno possibility of fracturing the teeth of either the pinion or the rack by forcing the door beyond its intended limiting position. 7 I

1. Also, it will be noted that abnormaltorsional stresses are absorbed between the link arm 69 and the housing 10, rather than being communicated to the spindle 22.

It will be further observed that the keyed shaft'66 is oriented with respect to the recesses 52, 54, 56, 58 so that when. the piston is returned to its normal position adjacent the end wall 14, the sides of said shaft will bear a 7 fixed, predetermined relationto therecesses.

. 6i? has been secured to the keyed shaft .65. This arin a counterclockwise direction about 165 before the side edge 76b engages abutment portion 84. V

In FIGURE 4 the closer is shown in standard left hand door application. In this view, the'opposite edge or face of the housing has been brought into engagement with the door and the segment 7 S has been seated in the channel 50.

Lobe 8i) lies in recess 54 and lobe 82in recess 56; For such left hand installation, the edge 76b of the extension portion 76 lies adjacent lobe 80, and the door, uponopening, will shift the extension portion 76 clockwise Within 7 opened about 125 before the interaction of the side edge 76a and abutment 84 limits any further' movement. The

spindle, in the course of such opening movement of the door, will be rotated about 165. 7 I a e In the view of FIGURES, there is diagrammatically shown a parallel left hand door application: As is implied, a parallel application exists wh re the link' 'arms 6Q and 60a are disposed substantially parallel with the body of the closer, such application being commonly employed where opening of the door to 180 is desired.

an extent approximating rangement facilitates installation by avoiding mistakes in that the installation of the segment withthe abutment portion 84 adjacent the side of the extension portion '76 is prevented. This is true because the space between the recesses of'the channel and the trailingedge of the extension portion is sulficient for lobe 80 but not for lobe E52,which carries abutment 84.

Preferablypthe fastener assembly may be affixed to the doorand frame in thedesired position. The installer a then maymerely drop the segment into the channel, with use, what is claimed as newand is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a door closer device having a casing, a spring powered, damped closer assembly movably mounted in said casing, and a spindle rotatablymounted in'said casing in'driving co'nnection with said closer assembly a to shift said assembly relative to said casing upon rotation of said spindle, an annular channel formed on said casing concentrically with the axis of rotation 'of said spindle, a link arm keyed to said spindle and including an oifset portion lying within said channel, and a limit stop member isposed within said channel in the path of said segment for restricting angular movement about said axis of said arm with respect to said casing.

2. A door closer device having a casing, a spindle rotatably mounted in said casing and including a pinion gear fixed thereto, a spring biased piston mounted in said casing, rack means operatively associated with said piston and meshed with said pinion of said spindle for movement to a limiting position relative to said pinion, a link arm keyed to said spindle, an open annular channel defined by the walls of said casing, said channel being disposed concentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of said spindle, an offset portion on said link arm extending within said channel and blocking means adjustably mounted in said channel in the path of said offset portion, said blocking means being positioned to engage said offset portion in advance of said pinion reaching said limiting position with respect to said rack.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said walls or" said casing define recess portions communicating with said channel and said blocking means include lug means seated within said recess portions.

4. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said walls of said casing define a plurality of recess portions communicating with said channel at equally spaced points and said blocking means includes a plurality of lugs spaced apart to correspond with the spacing of said recess portions, whereby said blocking means may be seated in said channel in a plurality of positions, with said lugs entering said recess portions.

5. In a door closer assembly including a housing, a spring biased piston reciprocally mounted in said housing, a spindle rotatably mounted on said housing, said spindle and piston having a geared connection for shifting said piston toward a first limiting position with respect to said spindle upon rotation of a predetermined magnitude of said spindle in said housing, a link arm keyed to said spindle, an extension portion on said arm, a blocking member mounted on said housing and including an abutment means disposed in the path of movement of said extension portion of said arm, said abutment means being positioned to engage said extension portion in advance of rotation of said spindle of said predetermined magnitude.

6. In a door closer assembly including a housing, a piston reciprocably mounted in said housing and normally biased to a first position therein, a spindle rotatably mounted in said housing and having a geared connection with said piston for shifting said piston toward a retracted limiting position upon rotation of a predetermined magnitude of said spindle in said housing, a link arm keyed to said spindle, a blocking member mounted on said housing including abutment means in the path of movement of said arm, said abutment means being positioned to engage said arm in advance of rotation of said spindle of said predetermined magnitude.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said spindle and link arm are provided with a complemental drive and socket connection whereby said arm may be non-rotatively connected to said spindle in a number of predetermined oriented positions, said blocking member including mounting means for selectively securing said blocking member to said housing in a plurality of positions, in accordance with the position of said arm on said spindle.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7 and including fastener means securing said arm to said spindle, said fastener means, in the applied position thereof, being positioned to lock said mounting means of said blocking member against accidental removal from said housing.

9. In a door closer assembly including a housing,

a spring biased piston mounted for reciprocal movement within said housing, a spindle rotatably mounted in said housing, said spindle and piston having a geared connector for shifting said piston toward a first limiting position upon rotation in either direction of a predetermined magnitude of said spindle in said housing, a keyed portion on said spindle, a link arm having a key receiver portion engageable with said keyed portion of said spindle in a number of predetermined oriented positions, a blocking member including seat means engageable with said housing in a plurality of oriented positions, said blocking member including an abutment portion in the path of movement of said link arm, said blocking member and link arm being coordinated on said housing and spindle, respectively, to limit rotary movement of said spindle to a magnitude below said predetermined magnitude.

10. A door closer assembly including a housing, a spring biased piston mounted for reciprocal movement in said housing, a spindle rotatably mounted in said housing and having a geared connection with said piston for shifting said piston to a first limiting retracted position upon rotation of a predetermined magnitude of said spindle in either direction, an annular channel defined by the walls of said housing, said channel being concentrically disposed with the axis of rotation of said spindle, a plurality of equally spaced recess portions communicating with said channel, an arcuate blocking member insertible into said channel in a plurality of positions, said member having at least one locating lobe portion lying within said recess portion, a link arm keyed to said spindle and including an offset extension arm, said extension arm including an arcuate portion disposed within said channel in potential direct contact with said blocking member, said arcuate portion and blocking portion cooperating to limit the rotation of said spindle to an angular amount below said predetermined magnitude.

11. A device in accordance with claim 10 wherein said blocking member includes at its end portions a pair of angularly spaced abutment portions disposed within said channel in potential direct contact with opposite sides of said arcuate portion, said abutment portion and sides serving to limit rotation of said spindle in either direction.

12. A device in accordance with claim 11 wherein said spindle and link arm are provided with complemental key and key receiver means for non-rotatably securing said link to said spindle in a plurality of predetermined positions, and said blocking member in insertible into said channel in a plurality of predetermined positions related to the positions of said link with respect to said spindle, said sides of said arcuate portion and said abutm-ents in said predetermined positions being oriented to permit rotary movement of said spindle in one direction of an extent less than said predetermined magnitude and preventing significant rotary movement of said spindle in the opposite direction.

13. A device in accordance with claim 10 wherein the portions of said link arm adjacent said channel are spaced from said housing to provide clearance between said link arm and said channel, permitting insertion of said blocking member into said channel While said link arm is fixed to said spindle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 638,718 12/99 Hughes 1649 X 1,678,701 7/28 Moore 1649 2,314,544 3/43 Larson 16-49 2,964,779 12/60 Gohr 16-51 FOREIGN PATENTS 820,227 9/59 Great Britain.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A DOOR CLOSER DEVICE HAVING A CASING, A SPRING POWERED, DAMPED CLOSER ASSEMBLY MOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CASING, AND A SPINDLE ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CASING IN DRIVING CONNECTION WITH SAID CLOSER ASSEMBLY TO SHIFT SAID ASSEMBLY RELATIVE TO SAID CASING UPON ROTATION OF SAID SPINDLE, AN ANNULAR CHANNEL FORMED ON SAID CASING CONCENTRICALLY WITH THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID SPINDLE, A LINK ARM KEYED TO SAID SPINDLE AND INCLUDING AN OFFSET PORTION LYING WITHIN SAID CHANNEL, AND A LIMIT STOP MEMBER DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CHANNEL IN THE PATH OF SAID SEGMENT FOR RESTRICTING ANGULAR MOVEMENT ABOUT SAID AXIS OF SAID ARM WITH RESPECT TO SAID CASING. 